BERLIN, Germany — February 14, 2011 — Leading PV manufacturers are getting ready to face their challenges head on at the fifth PV Fab Managers Forum in Berlin, Germany from March 20-22. Hosted by the CTM Group (crystalline cell technology and manufacturing group) and the SEMI PV Group, the forum focuses on improving customer-supplier relations across the entire PV supply chain. The PV Fab Managers Forum is unique because it is the premier collaborative event where critical supply chain and manufacturing issues, including roadmaps and standards, get addressed.

The second day features presentations on “PV Technology Challenges” focusing on key issues such as: Wafer Handling; Equipment Integration and Manufacturing Control and Automation; Wafer Marking and Traceability; Equipment and Line comparison (Cost of Ownership); and Cell Parametrics Specification.

“Thin Film Status, Applications and Competitiveness of Different Thin Film Technologies” with chairman Markus Hoehner (EuPD Research) and panelists from Wuerth Elektronik Research, Oerlikon Solar and others.

The PV Fab Managers Forum also includes company visits in and around Berlin, including a visit to Photoltaik Institut Berlin.

Forum attendees include fab managers, equipment suppliers, executives and business leaders from the PV industry, lead engineers from module manufacturers, as well as experts from the PV industry, research and academic organizations. Event sponsors include: DAS Environmental Expert GmbH, Edwards, Linde Group, and Schenker AG.

SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries. SEMI member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Beijing, Bengaluru, Berlin, Brussels, Grenoble, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.semi.org.

PV Group represents SEMI member companies involved in the solar energy manufacturing supply chain. Members provide manufacturing equipment, materials, cells, modules, sub-systems, and components to the solar energy industry worldwide. Our mission is to advance industry growth, support continuous efficiency improvements and promote sustainable business practices through international standards development, events, public policy advocacy, EHS support, market intelligence, and other services. For more information, visit www.pvgroup.org